Discover miles of hiking trails, colorful birdlife, a ski resort and quaint villages in this sprawling national park in northwest Finland.
Get ready for outdoor adventures amid the pristine and inspiring landscapes of Pallas-Yllästnturi National Park (Pallas-Yllästnturi kansallispuisto). The park spreads across over 250,000 acres (101,171 hectares) of barren wilderness in Finnish Lapland. It incorporates a chain of fells, ancient forests, lakes, rivers and undulating hills. Pallas-Yllästnturi National Park is a great vantage point for viewing the mystical midnight sun and northern lights.
Come in direct contact with the park’s natural beauty through activities you can enjoy year-round. Hike or bike along marked trails and trek to the summit of the fells. Swim in huge lakes or go canoeing and rowing on gently flowing rivers. Pick berries and mushrooms on the hillslopes and fish for trout and salmon on the rivers. Camp beneath a sunlit night sky from late May until mid-July.
Within the park are more than 20 hiking trails that cover some 217 miles (350 kilometers). These trails range from short walks to multiday treks. One of the most loved trails is the 34-mile (55 kilometer) long Hetta-Pallas Trail between the park’s northern tip and its geographical heart. Marvel at the panoramic views from the top of 2,647-feet (807-meter) tall Taivaskero Fell.
Ski, snowshoe and ride snowmobiles across endless miles of trails that traverse snow-covered fields. Pallastunturi Fell becomes a poplar cross-country and downhill skiing location in the winter months.
Keep watch for the park’s varied wildlife, including bears, reindeer and wolverines. Spot some of 150 bird species such as crossbills, Siberian jays and willow grouse.
Find a collection of villages set in and around the park with amenities, tour operators and visitor centers. At the northern edge is Hetta, home to the Fell-Lapland Nature Centre. The Pallastunturi Visitor Centre is in the central village of Pallastunturi and in the park’s southernmost corner is Ylläs and the Kellokas Visitor Centre.
Pallas-Yllästnturi National Park is accessible via public buses and shuttles from Kittilä, Kolari and Rovaniemi. If arriving by car, access the trails at the villages of Äkäslompolo, Hetta, Pallastunturi and Ylläs. Find more information on the official website for Finland’s national parks.
